At a news conference, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the contraction of U.S. growth in the first quarter occurred due to a harsh winter but that the weak growth is temporary.

"Extreme weather occurrences have a serious effect on the economy," Lagarde said. "And extreme weather occurrences have repeated much more frequently in the last 20 years than they had in the previous century. And I think that's a valid reason to wonder about climate change, and how to deal with it."

The IMF estimated the U.S. will reach full employment by 2017, adding that inflationary pressures will remain muted and the Federal Reserve policy rate could remain at zero longer than mid-2015.

This marks the first time that the IMF has endorsed raising the U.S. minimum wage. It comes amid increased discussion on Capitol Hill about hiking it with calls from U.S. President Barack Obama and some Democrats for a jump to $10.10 per hour.